Float-and-valve mechanism for tanks



(No Model.)

J. HOWES.

FLOAT AND VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANKS. No. 350,628. Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

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'NITED STATES JOHN HOWES, OF \VOBCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PATENT OFFICE. u

FLOAT-AND-VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,628 dated Qctober 12, 1886.

Application filed March 8, 1886. SerialNo. 194,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOWES, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of lVorcestcr and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floatand-Valve Mechanism forTanks, of which the following, together with the accon'ipanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to en'- able persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to an improved float-and-valve mechanism for automatically controlling the inlctpassage to a tank or cisQ tern by the rise and fall of a liquid contained therein,the object being to provide an automatically-acting valve mechanism that shall be efficient, convenient, and durable, and also to provide a float-and-valvc mechanism that can be used in connection with closed tanks or cisterns and co veniently entered and withdrawn through a small opening, at which the pipe is connected. These objects I attain by mechanism constructed and organized for operation, as illustrated in the drawings and explained in the following description, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figurel is a sectional view of a close tank or cistern, showing a side view of my improved float-and-valve mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the fioat-and-valve mechanism on larger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line '10 10, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section at line m at, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at line 1 1 Fig. 2.

Referring to parts, A denotes the tank or cistern, in the present instance shown as if formed of acylinder of sheet metal, with heads a a closing the respective ends thereof, and through one of which a small opening, I), is formed for connecting the inlet-pipes B,whereby air or liquid can be let into the interior-of said tank, or through which air or gas could be withdrawn, according to the purpose for which said tank is employed.

0 indicates a hollowstopper or hub, containing a passage, 1', and valve-seat C, and adapted to fit into and close the opening Z),

which leads into the tank A from the exterior thereof. On the lower part of said stopper there is provided a dependent bar or standard, 0 which extends into the interior of the tank and serves as a guide for the rod D, that car- 'ries the valve I, and as a fulcrum and support for the arm or lever f of the regulating-float F, which arm is pivoted to the lower end of the valve-rod D, as at (l, and has its end f insci-ted through a slot, e, in the lower end of the standard 0, substantially as illustrated. The valve rod D is preferably made hollow or tubular, and is guided within the standard by means of disks or cross-bars g. A screw, J, set in the side of the standard 0 is arranged to enter a slot, j, in the rod D, to confine said rod from rotation and to prevent the valve and float from dropping too low if the liquid is drawn from the tank.

The valve I is preferably formed of-a plug 7c of leather, rubber, or equivalent elastic material inserted into or fixed onto the end of the metal valve-rod D in a manner to be pressed up against the valveseat for closing the pas sage i by the raising of the float F when the, quantity of liquid in the tank increases be yond the normal level. The arrangement of the leverage at the connection (Z is such that the valve is closed with great force for stopping the passage 1', and the rod D being guided 83 by the standard 0 the movement of the valve is direct and perpendicular to the valve seat, thus avoiding any irregular seating of the valve.

The inlet-pipe B is connected with a boss, 8 5 a, at the top of the stopper by means of screwthreads, or, if more convenient, by soldering or other suitable manner.

In the present instance the stopper is externally screw-threaded, and a corresponding ing thread is formed in the head a around the opening into which said stopper is screwed, the joint being made tight and secure by an annular packing gasket, m, compressed be tween the flange 0" of the stopper and the sur- 9 5 face of the tank-head c. g If preferred, in some cases the stopper may be secured in other manner-as, for instance, by screws or bolts passing through the flange c -or, again, in other cases it may be driven into the opening 10:. as a plug. Either method of fastening the stopper in position is germane to myinvention.

The standard 0 rod D, and float F are all made of such form and size, and are connected together in such peculiar manner, that they can be passed through the small opening I) (of, say, one and a half inch, more or less) in the head a of the tank, into which the stopper 0 is secured when putting together or taking apart the apparatus, the float F being preferably made as an oblong cylinder of sheet metal, with the arm f connected at one end and the interior properly braced to prevent it collapsing by pressure.

The arm f of the float F is preferably fitted to the standard C by an interlookingjoint, as at f which admits of the necessary freedom of action without binding, and also forms a se cure connection without the necessity of a pin through thestandard. The endf of the arm is entered through a slot, 0, in the standard, and is formed in such manner that it cannot escape from the slot after the connection with the valverod at d is made. The upper extremity of the armfis beveled or fitted to take bearing against the standard when the float is sufficiently depressed, so as to limit its downward action.

I do not herein broadly claim novelty in the feature of a valve which is closed upward against its seat by means of a float, as I am aware that prior patents show mechanism embracing such feature, but of different construction from theimproved mechanism herein set forth.

hat I claim as of my invention, and destandard 0 on the under side thereof, combined with the rod D, reeiprocative through guides g on said standard, and carrying the valve I, for controlling said passage, and the cylindrical float F, adapted for operating said valvea'od by an arm, f, that ispivoted to said rod, and connected by an interlocking fulcru mjoint with said standard, substantially as here in shown and described.

2. The combination of the close tank having a small opening, screw-threadcd to said opening, and provided with the pipe-attaching boss 0, passage 1 and ard O, the rod D, carrying valve 1, and the float F, connected therewith, as at (I, said float, standard, and valve being constructed to pass through the opening '1), into which the stopper is titted, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the stopper 0, having the pipe attaching boss 0, passage '1', and valve-seat c, and the dependent standard a connected therewith, the rod D, supported thereon and carrying the valve I, the float F, provided with an arm,f, fulcruined on said standard and pivoted to said rod, and the guard-screw J, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

"Witness my hand this 23d day of February, A. D. 1886.

J ()l-IN HOWES.

\Vitnesscs:

Cults. H. BURLEIGH, S. R. BARTON.

as b, the hollow stopper 0,

valveseat G, and having the dependent stand- 

